​The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of July 24, 2017Praying In The Spirit

Romans 8:26-27,“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”Beloved, you may have heard of the phrase, “praying in the Spirit,” and have always wondered what it meant. You are not alone. Truthfully, there are numerous interpretations as to what an actual experience of praying in the spirit may look like but the bottom line is this: sometimes we do not know how or what to pray for, but we know that we need to pray and the Holy Spirit is there to help us pray.For example, God may place someone on our hearts and though we do not know what specifically to pray for, we know that we need to pray for them. Maybe it is for our personal situation but the pain of the circumstance brings us to our knees and all we can do is utter, “help!”Whatever the situation, we can be thankful that the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of each believer, is there to help us pray! Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for.One question that I am often asked is this: Is praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues? The answer is: it could be. However, because not all believers speak or pray in tongues does not mean that they are not praying in the Spirit. That is not true. You can pray in the spirit without praying in tongues.Praying in the Spirit is asking the Holy Spirit to lead us in our prayers and the Spirit even, “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”Beloved, when God leads you to pray, then pray. Even if you do not know what or how to pray because the Holy Spirit will help us to pray!I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!

​The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of July 3, 2017FreedomRomans 8:1-4, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”Beloved, I thank God that I grew up in a country that has afforded me so many freedoms. Tomorrow, July 4th, we celebrate those freedoms with fireworks and food and with one another listening to Ray Charles sing, “America, The Beautiful!” It will be a great time.I also thank the Lord that He has further set me free from my sin. He accomplished this through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. When I received Jesus Christ into my heart, I was set free from the law of sin and death.Romans 8:1-4 is an amazing statement of freedom. As dominating as sin and death seem to be, the Holy Spirit is more than a match for both of them. God doesn’t leave me to battle the forces of sin and death on my own. I have already proved they are too much for me. Instead, He has sent the Holy Spirit to set me free. That’s real freedom. I can walk through my life and into eternity knowing that sin and death do not determine my destiny because Jesus has given me the Holy Spirit.Beloved, God wants us to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. As we are speeding down the runway of life; sin and death are lurking at the end of the pavement. We don’t have to doubt. Paul knew what he was talking about. The Holy Spirit will give us the lift we need and enable us to soar above the danger. True freedom is found in Christ alone!Hence, tomorrow, as you celebrate with your hot dogs and hamburgers and fireworks, remember to also thank the Lord for the great freedom you have in Him. He has set you free and you are free indeed!I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!

Pastor's Pen

Senior PastorJoe Marquez

Beloved, we are soon to once again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the human Son of man and the divine Son of God. He is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God.

While there were many people instrumental in the birth of Christ, this morning we will look at His birth through the eyes of Joseph, His legal father. There is not too much known about the man who would care for Christ as He grew up. We know that Joseph was possibly a carpenter but most importantly we know that he was a righteous man who did the right thing.

When others would have ran away from a responsibility that was not even their own, Joseph stood steadfast and remained faithful to the end. We can learn much from his character and apply his attributes of faithfulness, purity, and perseverance to our own lives.

May you have a Blessed Christmas week and may Christ always be at the center of your lives!

P.S. Come back this evening as we look at the birth of Christ through the Gospel of Luke!